Poor Richard's Almanack - Wikiquote Poor Richard's Almanack Jump to: navigation , search Trust thy self, and another shall not betray thee. Poor Richard's Almanack (sometimes Almanac) was published by Benjamin Franklin , who adopted the pseudonym of "Poor Richard" or "Richard Saunders" for this purpose. Franklin began publishing Poor Richard's Almanack on December 19 , 1732 ; annual versions were published for each year from 1733 to 1758 . It was a best seller for a pamphlet published in the American colonies; print runs reached 10,000 per year. Contents He's a Fool that makes his Doctor his Heir. He's gone, and forgot nothing but to say Farewel– to his creditors. Hunger never saw bad bread. Great Talkers, little Doers. Fools make feasts and wise men eat 'em. The poor have little, beggars none, the rich too much, enough not one. Eat to live, and not live to eat. See Molière (1668) : Il faut manger pour vivre, et non pas vivre pour manger.

(One must eat to live, and not live to eat.) After three days men grow weary, of a wench, a guest, and weather rainy. [1] The proof of gold is fire, the proof of woman, gold; the proof of man, a woman. He that lies down with Dogs, shall rise up with fleas. Distrust & caution are the parents of security. He is ill cloth'd, who is bare of Virtue. Nothing more like a Fool, than a drunken Man. Innocence is its own Defence. 1734 You cannot pluck roses without fear of thorns, Nor enjoy fair wife without danger of horns. Without justice, courage is weak. Would you live with ease, Do what you ought, not what you please. Blame-all and Praise-all are two blockheads. Take this remark from Richard poor and lame, Whate'er's begun in anger ends in shame. What one relishes, nourishes. No man e'er was glorious, who was not laborious. All things are easy to Industry, All things difficult to Sloth. If you ride a Horse, sit close and tight, If you ride a Man, sit easy and light.

Don't think to hunt two hares with one dog. See Thomas Fuller , Gnomologia (1732), #2782. Fools multiply folly. Beauty & Folly are old companions. Better slip with foot than tongue. Hope of gain, Wedlock, as old Men note, hath likened been, Unto a publick Crowd or common Rout; Where those that are without would fain get in, And those that are within would fain get out. Grief often treads upon the Heels of Pleasure, Marry’d in Haste, we oft repent at Leisure; Some by Experience find these Words misplac’d, Marry’d at Leisure, they repent in Haste. Where there's Marriage without Love, there will be Love without Marriage. Be neither silly, nor cunning, but wise. Neither a Fortress nor a Maidenhead will hold out long after they begin to parly . Who pleasure gives, All things are cheap to the saving, dear to the wasteful. Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not of Reason. Happy's the Wooing that's not long a doing. Jack Little sow'd little, & little he'll reap.

Do good to thy Friend to keep him, to thy enemy to gain him. A good Man is seldom uneasy, an ill one never easie. Teach your child to hold his tongue, he'll learn fast enough to speak. Don't value a man for the Quality he is of, but for the Qualities he possesses. As Charms are nonsense, Nonsense is a Charm. He that cannot obey, cannot command. An innocent Plowman is more worthy than a vicious Prince. He that is rich need not live sparingly, and he that can live sparingly need not be rich. If you wou'd be reveng'd of your enemy, govern your self. A wicked Hero will turn his back to an innocent coward. Laws like to Cobwebs catch small Flies, Great one break thro' before your eyes. An Egg to day is better than a Hen to-morrow. See Thomas Fuller (physician) , Gnomologia (1732), #2916. Drink Water, Put the Money in your Pocket, and leave the Dry-bellyach in the Punchbowl. When 'tis fair be sure to take your Great coat with you. He does not possess Wealth, it possesses him.

See Thomas Fuller (physician) , Gnomologia (1732), #1125. Necessity has no Law; I know some Attorneys of the name. Onions can make, ev'n Heirs and Widows weep. Strange, that he who lives by Shifts, can seldom shift himself. As sore places meet most rubs, proud folks meet most affronts. The thrifty maxim of the wary Dutch, is to save all the Money they can touch. He that waits upon Fortune, is never sure of a Dinner. A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one. Marry your Son when you will, but your Daughter when you can. Avarice and Happiness never saw each other, how then shou'd they become acquainted. If you woul'd have Guests merry with your cheer, Be so your self, or so at least appear. Reader, farewel, all Happiness attend thee: May each New Year better and richer find thee. 1735 Bad Commentators spoil the best of books, So God sends meat (they say) the devil Cooks.

Compare this quote to: "God sends meat, and the Devil sends cooks" by the "Water Poet" John Taylor , Works, vol. ii. p. 85 (1630); "God sendeth and giveth both mouth and the meat", Thomas Tusser , A Hundred Points of Good Husbandry (1557); and "Are these the choice dishes the Doctor has sent us? Is this the great poet whose works so content us? This Goldsmith’s fine feast, who has written fine books? Heaven sends us good meat, but the Devil sends cooks?", David Garrick , Epigram on Goldsmith’s Retaliation. Vol. ii. p. 157. Approve not of him who commends all you say. By diligence and patience, the mouse bit in two the cable. Full of courtesie, full of craft. Look before, or you'll find yourself behind. A little House well fill'd, a little Field well till'd, and a little Wife well will'd, are great Riches. The poor man must walk to get meat for his stomach, the rich man to get a stomach to his meat. Eyes and Priests The Family of Fools is ancient.

Necessity never made a good bargain. If Pride leads the Van, Beggary brings up the Rear. There's many witty men whose brains can't fill their bellies. Weighty Questions ask for deliberate Answers. Be slow in chusing a Friend, slower in changing. Modern spelling: Be slow in choosing a Friend, slower in changing. Pain wastes the Body, Pleasures the Understanding. The cunning man steals a horse, the wise man lets him alone. Keep thy shop, & thy shop will keep thee. The King's cheese is half wasted in parings; but no matter, 'tis made of the peoples milk. Compare: "The king's cheese goes half away in parings." ( James Howell , 1659) Nothing but Money, Humility makes great men twice honourable. Of learned Fools I have seen ten times ten, Of unlearned wise men I have seen a hundred. Three may keep a Secret, if two of them are dead. Poverty wants some things, Luxury many things, Avarice all things. A lie stands on 1 leg, the Truth on 2. What's given shines, Sloth and Silence are a Fool's Virtues.

There's small Revenge in Words, but Words may be greatly revenged. To be humble to Superiors is Duty, to Equals Courtesy, to Inferiors Nobleness. Here comes the Orator! with his Flood of Words, and his Drop of Reason. If what most men admire, they would despise, 'Twould look as if mankind were growing wise. The Sun never repents of the good he does, nor does he ever demand a recompence. An old young man, will be a young old man. Some are weatherwise,some are otherwise. Are you angry that others disappoint you? remember you cannot depend upon yourself. One Mend-fault is worth two Findfaults, but one Findfault is better than two Makefaults. 1736 He that scatters Thorns, let him not go barefoot. There's none deceived but he that trusts. God heals, and the Doctor takes the Fees. If you desire many things, many things will seem but a few. Mary's mouth costs her nothing, for she never opens it but at others expense. Receive before you write, but write before you pay. I saw few die of Hunger, of Eating 100000.

He that would live in peace & at ease, Must not speak all he knows, nor judge all he sees. 1737 Note: The following section is difficult for the modern reader to comprehend, due to its use of terms and abbreviations (for monetary units) that have long fallen out of use (especially in the United States). Briefly, the basic unit of currency in Colonial times, in England and in the Colonies, was the pound sterling ( designated by the abbreviation l. ). Twenty Shillings ( designated by the abbreviation s. ) made up a pound; each shilling was worth twelve pennies ( designated by the abbreviation p. ) or pence; thus, there were 240 pence in one pound. A Groat was a silver coin worth four pence. Mickle is a term meaning, “a great amount.” “Many a little makes a mickle (Many small amounts accumulate to make a large amount)” was once a familiar proverbial phrase. Finally, pin, as in the phrase “pin money”, probably designates a tiny but non-specific amount.

The phrase “pin money” referred to an allowance granted by husbands to enable their wives to purchase pins, which were originally a pricey but essential item used by housewives in the making of clothing. HINTS for those that would be Rich. The use of Money is all the Advantage there is in having Money. For 6l. a year, you may have Use of 100l. a year, if you are a Man of known Prudence and Honesty. He that spends a Groat a day idly, spends idly above 6l. a year, which is the Price of using 100l. He that wastes idly a Groat’s worth of his Time per Day, one day with another, wastes the Privilege of using 100l. each Day. He that idly loses 5s. worth of time, loses 5s. and might as prudently throw 5s. in the River. He that loses 5s. not only loses that Sum, but all the Advantage that might be made by turning it in Dealing, which by the time that a young Man becomes old, amounts to a comfortable Bag of Mony.

Again, He that sells upon Credit, asks a Price for what he sells, equivalent to the Principal and Interest of his Money for the Time he is like to be kept out of it: therefore He that buys upon Credit, pays Interest for what he buys. And He that pays ready Money, might let that Money out to use: so that He that possesses any Thing he has bought, pays Interest for the Use of it. Consider then, when you are tempted to buy any unnecessary Householdstuff, or any superfluous thing, whether you will be willing to pay Interest, and Interest upon Interest for it as long as you live; and more if it grows worse by using. Yet, in buying Goods, 'tis best to pay ready Money, because, He that sells upon Credit, expects to lose 5 per Cent, by bad Debts; therefore he charges, on all he sells upon Credit, an Advance that shall make up that Deficiency. Those who pay for what they buy upon Credit, pay their share of this Advance. He that pays ready Money,escapes or may escape that Charge. A Penny sav'd is Twopence clear, A pin a day is a Groat a Year. Save & have.

Every little makes a mickle. The greatest monarch on the proudest throne, is oblig'd to sit upon his own arse. (Perhaps a prosaic translation of Michel de Montaigne 's earlier aphorism: au plus élevé trône du monde, si ne sommes assis que sur notre cul.) The Master piece of Man, is to live to the purpose. He that steals the old man's supper, do's him no wrong. A countryman between 2 Lawyers, is like a fish between two cats. He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities. The miser's cheese is the wholesomest. Love & lordship hate companions. the Priest, the Lawyer, & Death all three: Death takes both the weak and the strong. The lawyer takes from both right and wrong, and the priest from the living and the dead has his Fee. The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise. Don't misinform your Docter nor your Lawyer. I never saw an oft-transplanted tree, nor yet an oft-removed family, that throve so well as those that settled be. Three good meals a day is bad living.

To whom thy secret thou dost tell, to him thy freedom thou dost sell. Compare to Thomas Fuller (physician) , Gnomologia (1732), #5184 : To him, that you tell your Secret, you resign your Liberty, and to George Herbert , Jacula Prudentum (1651), #508 : He that tells a secret is another's servant, but also see James Howell , Lexicon Tetraglotton (1660) : To whom thy secret thou dost tell, to him thy freedom thou dost sell. If you'd have a Servant that you like, serve your self. He that pursues two Hares at once, does not catch one and lets t'other go. If you have time don't wait for time. Tell a miser he's rich, and a woman she's old, you'll get no money of one, nor kindness of t'other. Don't go to the doctor with every distemper, nor to the lawyer with every quarrel, nor to the pot for every thirst. The Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.

The noblest question in the world is, What Good may I do in it? Nothing so popular as GOODNESS. 1738 Let thy vices die before thee. See Thomas Fuller (physician) , Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), #1772. Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards. See Thomas Fuller (physician) , Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), #1817. The ancients tell us what is best; but we must learn of the moderns what is fittest. 'Tis less discredit to abridge petty charges, than to stoop to petty Gettings. Since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour. Since I cannot govern my own tongue, tho' within my own teeth, how can I hope to govern the tongues of others? If you do what you should not, you must hear what you would not. Wish not so much to live long as to live well. As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.

I have never seen the Philosopher's Stone that turns lead into Gold, but I have known the pursuit of it turn a Man's Gold into Lead. Sin is not hurtful because it is forbidden but it is forbidden because it's hurtful. Nor is a Duty beneficial because it is commanded, but it is commanded, because it's beneficial. Great Beauty, great strength, & great Riches, are really & truly of no great Use; a right Heart exceeds all. 1740 To hear other Peoples Afflictions, every one has Courage enough, and to spare. Compare this quote to “Nous avons tous assez de force pour supporter les maux d'autrui.” ( We all have strength enough to endure the misfortunes of others), François de la Rochefoucauld , Reflections: or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665-1668), Maxim 19. An empty bag will not stand upright. Happy that nation, fortunate that age, whose history is not diverting. An open Foe may prove a curse; But a pretended friend is worse. A wolf eats sheep but now and then, Ten Thousands are devour'd by men.

Man's tongue is soft, and bone doth lack; Yet a stroke therewith may break a man's back. The poor have little, Beggars none; the Rich too much, enough not one. Tricks and trechery are the Practice of Fools, that have not Wit enough to be honest. There are lazy Minds as well as lazy Bodies. Who says Jack is not generous? he is always fond of giving, and cares not for receiving.–What? Why; Advice. Fear not Death; for the sooner we die, the longer shall we be immortal. Those who in quarrels interpose, Must often wipe a bloody nose. Promises may get thee friends, but Nonperformance will turn them into enemies. In other men we faults can spy, And blame the mote that dims their eye; Each little speck and blemish find; To our own stronger errors blind. Observe all men; thy self most. Thou hadst better eat salt with the Philosophers of Greece, than sugar with the Courtiers of Italy. Seek Virtue, and, of that possest, To Providence, resign the rest. Marry above thy match, and thou'lt get a Master.

Fear to do ill, and you need fear naught else. He makes a Foe who makes a jest. Avoid dishonest Gain: No price Can recompence the Pangs of Vice. When befriended, remember it: When you befriend, forget it. Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure. A Flatterer never seems absurd: The Flatter'd always take his Word. Lend Money to an Enemy, and thou'lt gain him, to a Friend and thou'lt lose him. 1741 Learn of the skilful: He that teaches himself, hath a fool for his master. Best is the Tongue that feels the rein:– He that talks much, must talk in vain; We from the wordy torrent fly: Who listens to the chattering Pye? Anger and Folly walk cheek by jole; Repentance treads on both their Heels. Be always asham'd to catch thy self idle. Lying rides upon Debt’s back. They who have nothing to be troubled at, will be troubled at nothing. If evils come not, then our fears are vain: And if they do, Fear but augments the pain.

If you would keep your Secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend. Up, Sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough. There are no fools so troublesome as those that have wit. Quarrels never could last long, If on one side only lay the wrong. Let no Pleasure tempt thee, no Profit allure thee, no Ambition corrupt thee, no Example sway thee, no Persuasion move thee, to do any thing which thou knowest to be Evil; So shalt thou always jollily: for a good Conscience is a continual Christmas. Adieu. 1742 One good Husband is worth two good Wives; for the scarcer things are the more they're valued. He that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night. He that speaks ill of the Mare, will buy her. You will be careful, if you are wise; How you touch Men's Religion, or Credit, or Eyes. They who have nothing to trouble them, will be troubled at nothing. Against Diseases here, the strongest Fence, Is the defensive Virtue, Abstinence.

If thou dost ill, the joy fades, not the pains; If well, the pain doth fade, the joy remains. To err is human, to repent divine, to persist devilish. Industry pays Debts, Despair encreases them. With the old Almanack and the old Year, Leave thy Vices. tho' never so dear. The Difficulty lies, in finding out an exact Measure; but eat for Necessity, not Pleasure, for Lust knows not where Necessity ends. If thou art dull and heavy after Meat, it's a sign thou hast exceeded the due Measure; for Meat and Drink ought to refresh the Body, and make it chearful, and not to dull and oppress it. 1743 Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: Men freely ford that see the shallows. Poor Richard's Almanack (1743) How few there are who have courage enough to own their Faults, or resolution enough to mend them! Men differ daily, about things which are subject to Sense, is it likely then they should agree about things invisible?

Mark with what insolence and pride, Blown Bufo takes his haughty stride; As if no toad was toad beside. In prosperous fortunes be modest and wise, The greatest may fall, and the lowest may rise: But insolent People that fall in disgrace, Are wretched and no-body pities their Case. The World is full of fools and faint hearts; and yet every one has courage enough to bear the misfortunes, and wisdom enough to manage the Affairs of his neighbor. Beware, beware! he'll cheat 'ithout scruple, who can without fear. Content and Riches seldom meet together, Riches take thou, contentment I had rather. Speak with contempt of none, from slave to king, The meanest Bee hath, and will use, a sting. The church the state, and the poor, are 3 daughters which we should maintain, but not portion off. A little well-gotten will do us more good, Than lordships and scepters by Rapine and Blood. Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: Men freely ford that see the shallows. Tis easy to frame a good bold resolution; but hard is the Task that concerns execution.

Cold & cunning come from the north: But cunning sans wisdom is nothing worth. Ah, simple Man! when a boy two precious jewels were given thee, Time, and good Advice; one thou hast lost, and the other thrown away. The sleeping Fox catches no poultry. Up! up! If you'd be wealthy, think of saving, more than of getting: The Indies have not made Spain rich, because her Outgoes equal her Incomes. Experience keeps a dear school, yet Fools will learn in no other. How many observe Christ's Birth-day! How few, his Precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments. 1744 There are no fools so troublesome as those that have wit. Many complain of their Memory, few of their Judgment. Compare this quote to Tout le monde se plaint de sa mémoire, et personne ne se plaint de son jugement. (Everyone blames his memory; no one blames his judgment.) From Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665-1678), François de la Rochefoucauld , Maxim 89. Fools make feasts and wise men eat them.

Light heel'd mothers make leaden-heel'd daughters. 'Tis easier to prevent bad habits than to break them. Every Man has Assurance enough to boast of his honesty, few of their Understanding. An ounce of wit that is bought, Is worth a pound that is taught. He that resolves to mend hereafter, resolves not to mend now. 1746 Drink does not drown Care, but waters it, and makes it grow faster. If your head is wax, don’t walk in the sun. Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is. The wise Man draws more Advantage from his Enemies, than the Fool from his Friends. All would live long, but none would be old. Declaiming against Pride, is not always a Sign of Humility. Doing an Injury puts you below your Enemy; Revenging one makes you but even with him; Forgiving it sets you above him. Most of the Learning in use, is of no great Use. A Man in a Passion rides a mad Horse. Reader farewel, all Happiness attend thee; May each New-Year, better and richer find thee. 1750 'Tis not a Holiday that's not kept holy.

1752 Kings have long Arms, but Misfortune longer: Let none think themselves out of her Reach. For want of a Nail the Shoe is lost; for want of a Shoe, the Horse is lost; for want of a Horse the Rider is lost. The busy Man has few idle Visitors; to the boiling Pot the Flies come not. 'Tis more noble to forgive, and more manly to despise, than to revenge an Injury. A Brother may not be a Friend, but a Friend will always be a Brother. Meanness is the Parent of Insolence. A Temper to bear much, will have much to bear. Great Merit is coy, as well as great Pride. An undutiful Daughter, will prove an unmanageable Wife. Old Boys have their Playthings as well as young Ones; the Difference is only in the Price. The too obliging Temper is evermore disobliging itself. Hold your Council before Dinner; the full Belly hates Thinking as well as Acting. The Brave and the Wise can both pity and excuse; when Cowards and Fools shew no Mercy. Ceremony is not Civility; nor Civility Ceremony.

If Man could have Half his Wishes, he would double his Troubles. Children and Princes will quarrel for Trifles. Success has ruin'd many a Man. 1753 Anger is never without a Reason, but seldom with a good One. He that is of Opinion Money will do every Thing, may well be suspected of doing every Thing for Money. Compare this quote to “They who are of opinion that Money will do every thing, may very well be suspected to do every thing for Money.”, George Savile , Moral Thoughts and Reflections (1750). An ill Wound, but not an ill Name, may be healed. When out of Favour, none know thee; when in, thou dost not know thyself. God, Parents, and Instructors, can never be requited. If you have no Honey in your Pot, have some in your Mouth. Serving God is Doing Good to Man, but Praying is thought an easier Service, and therefore more generally chosen. Nothing humbler than Ambition, when it is about to climb. Gifts much expected, are paid, not given.

It has pleased God in his Goodness to Mankind, at length to discover to them the Means of securing their Habitations and other Buildings from Mischief by Thunder and Lightning. The Method is this: Provide a small Iron Rod (it may be made of the Rod-iron used by the Nailers) but of such a Length, that one End being three or four Feet in the moist Ground, the other may be six or eight Feet above the highest Part of the Building. To the upper End of the Rod fasten about a Foot of Brass Wire, the Size of a common Knitting-needle, sharpened to a fine Point; the Rod may be secured to the House by a few small Staples. If the House or Barn be long, there may be a Rod and Point at each End, and a middling Wire along the Ridge from one to the other. A House thus furnished will not be damaged by Lightning, it being attracted by the Points, and passing thro the Metal into the Ground without hurting any Thing.

Vessels also, having a sharp pointed Rod fix'd on the Top of their Masts, with a Wire from the Foot of the Rod reaching down, round one of the Shrouds, to the Water, will not be hurt by Lightning. 1754 If you'd know the Value of Money, go and borrow some. The horse thinks one thing, and he that saddles him another. Love thy Neighbor; yet don't pull down your Hedge. In the Affairs of this World Men are saved, not by Faith, but by the Want of it. Friendship cannot live with Ceremony, nor without Civility. The learned Fool writes his Nonsense in better Language than the unlearned; but still 'tis Nonsense. A Child thinks 20 Shillings and 20 Years can scarce ever be spent. You may give a Man an Office, but you cannot give him Discretion. He that doth what he should not, shall feel what he would not. Little Rogues easily become great Ones. You may sometimes be much in the wrong, in owning your being in the right. Friends are the true Sceptres of Princes. Where Sense is wanting, every thing is wanting.

For Age and Want save while you may, No Morning Sun lasts a whole Day. Many Princes sin with David, but few repent with him. He that hath no ill Fortune will be troubled with good. 1755 The Day is short, the Work great, the Workmen lazy, the Wages high, the Master urgeth; Up, then, and be doing. The Doors of Wisdom are never shut. Much Virtue in Herbs, little in Men. When you taste Honey, remember Gall. Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn. God gives all Things to Industry. Diligence overcomes Difficulties, Sloth makes them. Neglect mending a small Fault, and 'twill soon be a great one. A long Life may not be good enough, but a good Life is long enough. Be at War with your Vices, at Peace with your Neighbours, and let every New Year find you a better Man. 1756 A wise Man will desire no more, than what he may get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly. A false Friend and a Shadow, attend only while the sun shines.

To-morrow, every fault is to be amended; but that To-morrow never comes. Plough deep, while Sluggards sleep; And you shall have Corn, to sell and to keep. He that sows Thorns, should never go barefoot. Laziness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes him. Sampson with his strong Body, had a weak Head, or he would not have laid it in a Harlot's Lap. To be proud of Knowledge, is to be blind with Light; to be proud of Virtue, is to poison yourself with the Antidote. Get what you can, and what you get, hold; 'Tis the Stone that will turn all your Lead into Gold. An honest Man will receive neither Money nor Praise, that is not his Due. Saying and Doing, have quarrel'd and parted. Tell me my Faults, and mend your own. 1757 Many a Man's own Tongue gives Evidence against his Understanding. Compare this quote to “Most men make little other use of their Speech than to give evidence against their own Understanding.”, George Savile , Moral Thoughts and Reflections (1750).

Anger warms the Invention, but overheats the Oven. It is Ill-Manners to silence a Fool, and Cruelty to let him go on. Compare this quote to “It is Ill-manners to silence a Fool, and Cruelty to let him go on.”, George Savile , Moral Thoughts and Reflections (1750). Men take more pains to mask than mend. Compare this quote to “Men take more pains to hide than to mend themselves.”, George Savile , Miscellaneous Thoughts and Reflections (1750). One To-day is worth two To-morrows. The way to be safe is never to be secure. Aphorism quoted by Francis Quarles Dally not with other Folks Women or Money. Work as if you were to live 100 years, Pray as if you were to die To-morrow. Pride breakfasted with Plenty, dined with Poverty, supped with Infamy. Act uprightly, and despise Calumny; Dirt may stick to a Mud Wall, but not to polish'd Marble. The Tongue offends, and the Ears get the Cuffing.

Maxims prefixed to Poor Richard's Almanac, 1757 Reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919). God helps them that help themselves. Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. Early to bed and early to rise, Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Plough deep while sluggards sleep. Never leave that till to-morrow which you can do to-day. Three removes are as bad as a fire. Little strokes fell great oaks. A little neglect may breed mischief: for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost. He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing. A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose to the grindstone. Vessels large may venture more, But little boats should keep near shore. It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright. Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.

1758 Many quotations from the preamble of this edition are repeats of statements in previous editions, a sort of "Collected Wisdom" of Poor Richard. In my Rambles, where I am not personally known, I have frequently heard one or other of my Adages repeated, with, as Poor Richard says, at the End on't; this gave me some Satisfaction, as it showed not only that my Instructions were regarded, but discovered likewise some Respect for my Authority; and I own, that to encourage the Practice of remembering and repeating those wise Sentences, I have sometimes quoted myself with great Gravity. Father Abraham stood up, and reply'd, If you'd have my Advice, I'll give it you in short, for a Word to the Wise is enough, and many Words won't fill a Bushel, as Poor Richard says. They join'd in desiring him to speak his Mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows; "Friends, says he, and Neighbours, the Taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the Government were the only Ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us.

We are taxed twice as much by our Idleness, three times as much by our Pride, and four times as much by our Folly, and from these Taxes the Commissioners cannot ease or deliver us by allowing an Abatement. However let us hearken to good Advice, and something may be done for us; God helps them that help themselves, as Poor Richard says, in his Almanack of 1733. It would be thought a hard Government that should tax its People one tenth Part of their Time, to be employed in its Service. But Idleness taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all that is spent in absolute Sloth, or doing of nothing, with that which is spent in idle Employments or Amusements, that amount to nothing. Sloth, by bringing on Diseases, absolutely shortens Life. Sloth, like Rust, consumes faster than Labour wears, while the used Key is always bright. Dost thou love Life, then do not squander Time, for that's the Stuff Life is made of. There will be sleeping enough in the Grave.

Lost Time is never found again; and what we call Time-enough, always proves little enough: Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the Purpose; so by Diligence shall we do more with less Perplexity. Sloth makes all Things difficult, but Industry all easy Early to Bed, and early to Rise, makes a Man healthy, wealthy, and wise. He that lives upon Hope will die fasting. Plough deep, while Sluggards sleep, and you shall have Corn to sell and keep. Want of Care does us more Damage than Want of Knowledge. For want of a Nail the Shoe was lost; for want of a Shoe the Horse was lost; and for want of a Horse the Rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the Enemy, all for want of Care about a Horse-shoe Nail. Earlier proverb, compare "For want of a nail the shoe is lost, for want of a shoe the horse is lost, for want of a horse the rider is lost." George Herbert , Jacula Prudentum (1651) No.

499 Away then, with your expensive follies, and you will not have then so much reason to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families. Pride that dines on Vanity sups on Contempt. When you have got the Philosopher's Stone , sure you will no longer complain of bad Times, or the Difficulty of paying Taxes. Experience keeps a dear School, but Fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that. They that won't be counselled, can't be helped. Thus the old Gentleman ended his Harangue. The People heard it, and approved the Doctrine, and immediately practised the contrary, just as if it had been a common Sermon; for the Vendue opened, and they began to buy extravagantly, notwithstanding all his Cautions, and their own Fear of Taxes. — I found the good Man had thoroughly studied my Almanacks, and digested all I had dropt on those Topicks during the Course of Five-and-twenty Years.

The frequent Mention he made of me must have tired any one else, but my Vanity was wonderfully delighted with it, though I was conscious that not a tenth Part of the Wisdom was my own which he ascribed to me, but rather the Gleanings I had made of the Sense of all Ages and Nations. However, I resolved to be the better for the Echo of it; and though I had at first determined to buy Stuff for a new Coat, I went away resolved to wear my old One a little longer. Reader, if thou wilt do the same, thy Profit will be as great as mine. When you're an Anvil, hold you still; When you're a Hammer, strike your Fill. When Knaves betray each other, one can scarce be blamed, or the other pitied. Fools need Advice most, but wise Men only are the better for it. Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a Mark of Folly. Great Modesty often hides great Merit. You may delay, but Time will not. Virtue may not always make a Face handsome, but Vice will certainly make it ugly. Content is the Philosopher's Stone, that turns all it touches into Gold.

Statement on the value of contentment. He that's content, hath enough; He that complains, has too much. Half the Truth is often a great Lie. Compare this quote to “Half the Truth is often as arrant a Lye, as can be made.”, George Savile , Miscellaneous Thoughts and Reflections (1750). The first Mistake in publick Business, is the going into it. The Way to see by Faith, is to shut the Eye of Reason: The Morning Daylight appears plainer when you put out your Candle. The first portion of this sentence is often quoted without the context provided by the complete statement. Good-Will, like the Wind, floweth where it listeth. In a corrupt Age, the putting the World in order would breed Confusion; then e'en mind your own Business. To serve the Publick faithfully, and at the same time please it entirely, is impracticable. Rob not God, nor the Poor, lest thou ruin thyself; the Eagle snatcht a Coal from the Altar, but it fired her Nest. With bounteous Cheer,

Question: Finish the proverb "He is a fool who makes his doctor...."?
Answer: His Heir